Improvement in meat-tenderers



U K. WHITTIER. Meat-Tenderer.

Nor 210,652. Patented Dec.10,1878;

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITMDGRAPMER, WASHINGYQN, n C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

OULLEN K. WHITTIER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEAT-TENDERERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 210.652, datedDecembcrlO, 1878; application filed September 7, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OULLEN K. WHITTIER, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Meat-Tenderers, which improvement is fully set forth inthe following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to a class of instruments known as meat-tenderers,which have numerous awls or like cutting-edges, and a spring-plate,through which they pass; and it consists in connecting the said plate tothe instrument, and holding it in place, and provid ing for retractionof the plate by means of a rod passing through the head and attached tothe plate.

In the drawings which accompany and illustrate this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved utensil. Fig. 2 is avertical section through the head thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the face,showing the cuttin g-edges of the perforating or cutting instrumentsprojecting through the face-plate.

. The head of the utensil is represented at A. It consists, preferably,of a block of wood, which may be turned in any shape, as fancy orconvenience may dictate. On the plane face of the head are inserted theawls b b I), the cutting-edges of which may be arranged, as shown inFig. 3, with the cutting-edges of one row in one direction, and those ofthe adjacent row in a direction at right angles to the first, in orderto sever the fiber more effectually. This, however, may be varied. Theawls bb b pass through the perforated faceplate c, the holes in the saidplate being made sufficiently large to allow free motion withoutbinding. The plate 0 is held, when in normal position, near the ends ofthe perforating devices, by means of spiral springs (I (Z d, which aresupported on the awls b b b, and bear at one end against the face of thehead A, and at the other upon the plate 0. These springs are made ofsuch strength as to yield under an ordinary blow of the implementwielded by the hand and struck upon substances such as meats, whichpermit the free penetration of the puncturing devices. At the same time,when the force of the blow is spent, the force of the spring, compressedby the blow, reacts to push the plate forward or downward upon the meatand draw out the teeth without any disturbance whatever of the meat, andwithout the necessity of taking hold of it with the hand. In fact, theinstrument itself rebounds from the surface of the meat and permitsrapid and regulated blows, the amount or depth of the penetrationdepending on the force of the blow, but not exceeding the limit ofcompression of the springs.

A rod, 0, extending through the head, is provided with a ring, by whichthe plate may be drawn directly back for cleaning. This rod, beingattached to the plate on the inner surface, serves to hold it in place,as well as to draw it back, and renders the structure simple and cheap.

A handle, f, of suitable length may be provided, and is preferable,though the head A may be extended to serve as a handle.

I have shown the cutting devices in the form of awls; but it is manifestthat their shape may be changed without departing from the spirit of theinvention, the main feature in their shape and arrangement being thatthey sever the meat with short and separate incisions, leaving itcontinuous in appearance, but at the same time rendered more tender bythe numerous small cuttings throughout the mass. These small incisionsalso serve to hold the juices and gravy or butter in which the meat isserved.

The plate and cutting devices may be made of steel or any suitablemetal, and the size of the instrument may be varied to suit therequirements of the trade.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The described utensil consisting of the head, the awls inserted therein,the plate moving upon the awls, the springs, andthe rod 0, passingthrough the head, all combined and arranged as set forth.

OULLEN K. WHITTIER.

